‘Stop moaning regarding Hamilton’ – Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone has said Lewis Hamilton’s rivals to “stop moaning” about the on-track strategy of the 2008 world champion. Lewis weaving in front of Vitaly Petrov in Malaysia was a topic throughout the weekend, argued at length in the media and in the drivers’ briefing by many of Hamilton’s opponents. He, as well as Sebastian Vettel, was then reprimanded by the stewards in Shanghai for a pit-lane incident, but it was Vettel who grumbled, saying afterwards that Hamilton “was keen to touch me”.

Hamilton told reporters in China that he did not understand “why everyone was fussing about it”. Asked if he thought the issue was overblown, he answered: “Yeah — they seemed to be talking about it for some time.”

Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone also thinks Hamilton’s rivals should spotlight harder on their own driving. “What are they talking about?” he is quoted as saying by the Mirror. “Isn’t this sport all about racing? I thought Lewis had a fantastic race. He drove really well and they should stop complaining and get on with the racing.

“I loved watching his performance in Sepang. I bet the fans did too. It (the reaction) was a whole lot of moaning about nothing.”